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About the Book

Over 50 million Americans have a mental illness, but as many as 20 million don't have their illness detected. And many others get substandard treatment. Family members play a crucial role in recognizing mental illness, and helping a loved one get the treatment they need. The early signs of mental illness are clear if you know what to look for, and getting rapid and effective treatment will help your relative get better faster. If you think a family member or friend may be struggling with a mental illness, or isn't getting effective treatment, this guide will help you recognize symptoms, get the right treatment, and work together as a family to help your loved one get better.

Inside you'll find step-by-step support and information for determining whether someone you care about is suffering from a mental disorder, and what you can do to help. The Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness outlines the nine fundamental steps to recognizing, managing, and recovering from mental illness. It provides both diagnostic information and details about therapy options and useful medications. With the right advice, determined effort, and a lot of love, you can make a difference.

Contributors

Bodie Morey received her AB from Harvard and experienced firsthand the turmoil and challenges of a mental illness developing in her family: her husband of twenty-six years had severe bipolar disorder, and one of her daughters developed... Read more

Books by Bodie Morey

Kim T. Mueser, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who works with clients and families, and a professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Community and Family Medicine at the Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, NH. He has conducted extensive... Read more

Books by Kim Mueser

Praise

Above all, this is a book about love. Families will rely on it to help loved ones. They will share it with friends when their families in turn are confronted by mental illness. The book covers a broad spectrum of concerns from recognizing symptoms to maintaining wellness-and offers practical information and strategies. --Michael J. Fitzpatrick, MSW, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness

The Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness is a comprehensive and useful guide for recognizing and dealing with mental illness in loved ones. It is easy to read and offers practical advice on what to do, with each section having a list of steps and missteps. The guide covers important topics such as the recognition of early signs, diagnosis, finding help, choosing a doctor, treatments, and prognosis. The authors are upbeat and optimistic, addressing fear and stigma while showing people how to care for themselves and their families. This guide will be helpful to anyone who has a family member with mental illness. --Cheryl Corcoran, MD, director of the Center of Prevention and Evaluation (COPE), a clinical research program at Columbia University for young people at increased risk for psychosis and other mental disorders

Morey and Mueser have written an invaluable resource for families on mental illnesses. Scientifically current yet easily read, this volume demystifies psychiatric jargon to help families correctly identify mental health problems and successfully respond to them. The volume is filled with practical advice about real-world situations, including helpful case vignettes. It will do much to build knowledge and improve access to and participation in care. --David Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America, formerly the National Mental Health Association, the oldest and among the largest mental health education and advocacy organization in the United States

This step-by-step guide removes the mystery from mental illness and treatment, tackling challenges from recognizing signs of illness, to communication skills, to fostering the vitality of caregivers. Although written for family members, this book offers a comprehensive and readable overview for health professionals, educators, the clergy, and others. --Barbara J. Burns, Ph.D., professor of medical psychology and director of the Services Effectiveness Research Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine

This book amazed me. Having worked with families of people with a mental illness for my entire professional career, I could not believe that one book was able to cover such a variety of issues facing families of people with a mental illness. To read a book which guides family members in positive ways—from the earliest manifestations of problematic behaviors (the something-is-not-quite-right stage) through to the situations of more established patterns of long-term mental illness—was for me a truly exhilarating experience. I feel sure the book will become a guiding light. —Margaret Leggatt, Ph.D., B.App., Sc. (O.T), coordinator of the Family Participation Project at ORYGEN Youth Health in Parkville, Victoria, Australia, and past president of the World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders

This book is an outstanding and long-overdue contribution to the field of mental health. This is a comprehensive and practical guide based on sound knowledge for anyone who has a family member with a mental illness or has concerns about a relative or friend. What is most striking about this book are its clear, “How to care for…” instructions that could almost be put up on the fridge. It offers help from the moment someone wonders if something is wrong to the point of recovery or even the need for longer-term care. Most importantly, its style undoubtedly normalizes the concern about mental health problems and caring for someone with a mental illness. —Jean Addington, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto and president of the International Early Psychosis Association

New Harbinger has published proven-effective self-help books and workbooks, as well as professional books on topics in psychology, health, and personal growth. Our books provide evidence-based therapies such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and more.